284581
I'm glad I have it, but...: Parents' experiences with Florida's children's health insurance program
Lianne Estefan, PhD,
Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Alexis Barr,
University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL
Background: Access to health insurance for low-income children is important for their overall health and wellbeing, yet Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured children in the nation. Understanding parents' experiences with the state children's health insurance program may provide insight into how to resolve this issue. This qualitative study provided in-depth information about the enrollment and service utilization experiences of parents whose children were enrolled in Florida's public children's health insurance program. Methods: Participants were recruited using information contained in a data entry sheet that was collected during enrollment outreach. An in-depth, qualitative interview was conducted with each participant. Results: Interviews were conducted with 17 parents of enrolled children. Most participants were female (87.5%), White (43.8%), and employed (81.3%). The majority of participants felt that the insurance program was important for families who need health insurance for their children. Participants described facing obstacles during multiple points in the system, including difficulty navigating the enrollment system; delays in learning whether they had been accepted into the program; communication challenges, including lack of appropriate information about their children's insurance coverage and providers that accepted it; and some dissatisfaction with services provided by the health care providers. Conclusion: To successfully obtain and retain health insurance coverage for their children, parents must be able to understand and navigate the system. Increased attention to parents' experiences with state children's health insurance programs, especially the obstacles that they face to enrolling in and utilizing services, is necessary in order to make changes.
Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the enrollment and service utilization experiences of parents whose children were enrolled in Florida's public children’s health insurance program.
List parent-identified obstacles to optimal use of the insurance system.
Keyword(s): Health Insurance, Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I hold a PhD and MPH focused in maternal and child health. I am a Research Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida where I conduct research and teach courses in this area, with a specific focus on child health. I am the primary investigator of this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
